» Kathy McCabe

Published on Thursday, August 18, 2011 by Kathy McCabe
I first ate at Cammillo Trattoria more than 15 years ago during my first visit to Florence; I have since returned again and again, mostly to taste their excellent pappa al pomodoro (bread and tomato soup) or tortellini and enjoy the homey, if bustling atmosphere. This trattoria, a few blocks from the Ponte Vecchio, on the Oltrano side of the river, has been around for...

Published on Thursday, August 11, 2011 by Kathy McCabe
If you're planning a visit to the Campania region of Italy and want to take a journey far back in time, head to Santa Maria Capua Vetere, once the site of the ancient city of Capua, once the richest city in southern Italy. (Modern Capua was founded nearby in 857 by inhabitants forced out by the Saracens.) This is where Spartacus, a Thracian slave, launched a two-year ...

Published on Sunday, July 31, 2011 by Kathy McCabe
Once the seat of the government of the Venetian Republic, the palace of justice, and the residence of the Doge (the head of republic), the Palazzo Ducale or Doge's Palace is an incredible piece of history in Venice. The building is decorated with works by numerous Italian masters, including one wall entirely taken up by Jacopo Tintoretto's Paradiso. From the main bu...

Published on Saturday, July 30, 2011 by Kathy McCabe
One of my favorite hotels in Rome is the Rose Garden Palace Hotel. Just off the famous Via Veneto, and a stone’s throw from the American Embassy, it enjoys one of the best locations in the city. The hotel is partly owned by Steve Perillo, the third generation owner of Perillo Tours, the world’s largest tour operator to Italy. Perillo and his Italian partn...

Published on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 by Kathy McCabe
Who wouldn't like to save a few dollars -- or euros -- while visiting Italian cities? Special city cards for tourists, which usually include discounts on public transportation and museum admissions, can be worth using when you are visiting Italy.
For example, the Roma Pass which is valid for three days at the cost of 25€ gives you free admission to your first two...

Published on Monday, July 25, 2011 by Kathy McCabe
You practically can't get more different experiences than a small city famous for its almond candies and a town famous for its snakes. Where to find these experiences? In the region of Abruzzo...
Ever wonder where those colorful sugar-covered almonds called confetti come from? Sulmona is their birthplace and you can’t walk the city’s main street, Corso Ovidio, ...

Published on Friday, July 15, 2011 by Kathy McCabe
So you think you've eaten well in Italy? Suspend all judgment until you've visited the region of Puglia, where the Mediterranean sun waves its magic wand to produce a true bounty of magnificent, flavorful gifts. Here are some examples of the fresh ingredients Puglia produces and how they combine in simple, yet mouth-watering ways:
Olive oil: The ancient olive t...

Published on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 by Kathy McCabe
When Eataly, the giant Italian food and wine emporium and experience, opened in New York last year it got tons of buzz. But for the true and bigger Eataly experience, I recommend you visit the very first Eataly which opend in Turin in 2007.
Located in the former Carpano Vermouth production plant, Eataly was founded by Oscar Farinetti in alliance with Slow Food, the...

Published on Sunday, June 5, 2011 by Kathy McCabe
Italy and opera are so intertwined, one would almost think that the form was born in Italy. If you're a music buff and traveling to Italy, especially during the summer, don't miss the chance to see a live performance in the country that has given so much to the art form. Opera began in Italy around 1600 and the Italian language came to be so perfect for singing that m...

Published on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 by Kathy McCabe
If you’re traveling between Italy's cities, you should consider going by train. Enjoy the ride, look out at the lovely countryside and even take a nap while you’re whisked from one city to another. If you’re traveling between Italian cities, the train is definitely the way to go. For major city routes, hop on the Eurostar train, which will get you where you’re...